‘Extend transport subsidy to agri, related sectors’
Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Tuesday demanded that the transport subsidy under the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) should also be extended to agriculture and related sectors in the Northeast which can foster the envisioned second green revolution in this part of the country.
Dr Sangma said that in the absence of large-scale industries in the region due to its inherent problems, focus should be given to agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and such other sectors. He was participating in the meeting of the State Industries Ministers of the Northeast convened by Union Minister of DoNER, after his return from Switzerland.
“Once this sector picks up there can be a value chain with the facilities of processing and exporting outside the region and even the country,” Dr Sangma said, adding, “But unless transport subsidy is given to this vital sector the same would not be viable.”
It may be reminded that the Centre has taken a strategic initiative ‘Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern and Northeastern India’ to develop high potential region for increased food grains production. The programme is intended to improve the crop productivity of the region by addressing the underlying constraints.
Secretary DoNER, Jayati Chandra, also supported the views of Dr Sangma and said the ministry wanted a feedback from the Industries ministers on making the industrial policies more broad based by including agro products, handlooms and handicrafts. The focus is going to be on secondary sectors because manufacturing and industry has been stagnating, she added.
The meeting of the state Industries ministers of the Northeast was convened by the Paban Singh Ghatowar, Minister for DoNER, as part of the wider consultation process. The ministers echoed the view expressed by the industrialists of the region.
On Monday night, during a meeting hosted by Federation of Industries North Eastern Region (FINER) to felicitate the newly-appointed DoNER Minister, the region’s entrepreneurs protested the proposed amendment in the Transport Subsidy scheme (TSS). This comes with the move initiated by Department of Industrial Policy and Planning (DIPP) under the Industries and Commerce Ministry to amend the TSS that the meeting convened by Minister DoNER, assumes significance.
The DoNER Ministry would soon convene a meeting of the chief ministers of the Northeast to further discuss the issue. The Industries ministers of the Northeast were requested to brief their chief ministers and after which the proposed meeting would take place.
Industries in the Northeast have been troubled ever since the DIPP proposed to reduce the transport subsidies following allegations of large-scale cheating. Fresh proposals on the table include introduction of additional rail heads at Guwahati, Tinsukia and Dimapur on the grounds that it would reduce the distance, thereby resulting in curtailment of subsidy.
The Industries ministers and the Industrial units also warn that the subsidy and tax benefits given to the industries will lose their relevance if the same is extended to other special category states outside the region because of their location advantages. They also did not want fly by night operators who do not really invest in the region but make use of the loopholes of the law to avail the special benefits.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State Vincent Pala has stated that he would do all it takes from his end to ensure that the transport subsidy scheme is implemented at the earliest.